Princess Obienu vs. County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services

Case Background

Princess Obienu filed an employment discrimination lawsuit against Los Angeles County, (erroneously sued as “County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services"). The lawsuit alleged racial and disability discrimination and wrongful termination which led to lost wages and emotional distress. The case was filed in the California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, with Judges Jon R. Takasugi and Richard E. Rico presiding. [Case number: 19STCV33111]

Cause

Princess Obienu, an employee of Los Angeles County, began her role as a Health Education Assistant in December 2008.

Denial of Promotion

In June 2009, after completing her probationary period, Dr. Lakshmi Makam encouraged her to apply for a Health Educator position. However, the Department of Health Services (DHS) rejected her application, stating that she did not meet the minimum education requirements. Victoria Dela-Aguilar, an HR Exam Analyst, signed the denial letter. Plaintiff held multiple degrees, including a bachelor’s in Health Science and a master’s in Urban Public Health, along with extensive teaching experience. Plaintiff appealed the decision in 2009, and Charles Drew University (CDU) supported her qualifications. Despite this, her appeal was denied. From 2006 onward, she repeatedly applied for similar positions but was consistently rejected for failing to meet the stated requirements. In 2010, the Department of Public Health (DPH) denied her a promotion to Staff Development, despite her 88% interview score. In 2012, DHS rejected her for the same position, giving her a 76% rating. Dr. Makam, who had previously acknowledged her planning skills, rated her low in that area. Plaintiff had developed the Health Education and Cultural Linguistic Program at Hubert H. Humphrey Comprehensive Health Center. Between 2012 and 2016, Plaintiff faced multiple denials for Health Educator and related positions, often due to outdated job requirements. She petitioned the county to revise the job specifications, but progress remained slow. In 2017, she was assigned poor working conditions and faced retaliation after filing complaints. In 2018, despite being placed on an eligibility list with a 100% rating, she remained disqualified for Health Educator roles. The pattern of denials and workplace mistreatment continued through 2018.

Medical Leave